Runes and magic in Beowulf and in Anglo-Saxon EnglandIn the Old English poem Beowulf, we see mention of runes, which were used with connotations of magic or charms. . Examining the evidence from historical times, we find that the early English were well versed in the Germanic runic alphabet and that the runes had special connotations. In Beowulf, the hero is in mortal combat with Grendel's mother in the desert. He is about to be killed by the monster when suddenly God shows him the presence of a special sword nearby, on the wall. Beowulf grabs the giant weapon and kills the monster. Then: this sword had begun to melt into bloody icicles in battle; that it melted was as much a wonder as the ice itself when the Father undoes the bonds of frost, loosens the icy chains of water, Who keeps the power of times and seasons; He is the true God. . . .Already, the sword had melted, its blade had burned; the too-hot blood of the venomous spirit that had died inside. . . .the wave-sword burned, soaked in this blood. . . .then the strange golden handful was placed in the hand of the gray-bearded king, wise warlord, old work of giants; after the fall of the devil, it passed into the hands of the lord of the Danes, coming from the magic forges; Once the fierce spirit, long adversary of God, guilty creature and his murderous mother, had left this world, he fell into the power of the best overlord between the two seas, of all the world rulers in Scandinavia who gave good treasures. Hrothgar spoke, examined the hilt, a great treasure of old. There was engraved the origin of past conflicts, when the flood drowned, the surging ocean killed the race of giants. . . On its shining gold faces there were also runes arranged in order, engraved, inlaid, which indicated for whom the sword had been first worked, its edges sharpened, its scrolls of gold twisted in the hilt, woven serpent blade (1605ff). in his “Commentary” would have us believe that the melting sword is a reference to patristic theology, to Saint Paul..